Ask Hands of the Heretic Pt II

[Roman Antilles]

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LAKE IRONWOOD, VJUN, LOCAL TIME: 0300

The heart of night was upon them, moonlight glistening in the putrid black skies as Vjun jungles were silent save for the sounds of insects chirping and the occasional wildlife that grumbled with prey and predator alike. Imperial might descended upon it quickly, the Corvette and envoy cruisers exiting out of hyperspace and sending several transport shuttles towards the ground levels. They banded into the grounds with a thud, saturating air with gusty wind and smog. Dark force presence seeped forwards like an invisible aura, cloaking everything around and suffocating the essence of Life as the Sith Champion returned to Vjun.

Romans' Armored form could be visualized exiting the shuttle, crimson lightsaber ignited in his right grip as he advanced to the center of the encampment zone. Several small platoons of Imperial Assault corps surrounded the Sith, flanking him and protecting him from any unsuspecting enemy blaster fire. There he waited for his Imperial Envoy, opening up a datapad that showed the path they must take to track through the Vjun's jungle and reach the hidden Temple. "Lord Branthom, shall we begin our journey?" He asked.

@Morse

 

[Armaj Branthom]

The journey through hyperspace had been rapidly taken to facilitate the needs of the expeditions leaders. They searched for an artifact that could be considered valuable to many. That item was not entirely in itself a known commodity, but the Sith often utilized any advantage that they could in order to claim a position. Imperials did the same, but so often they could not understand what they were looking at and therefore let such opportunities pass them by.

The flotilla of ships was hastily put together at the direction of the Champion and on the authority of the Envoy. They had with them a massing of power that would pummel and intimidate any local resistance, should they be foolish enough to try their luck against the might of the Empire. That was an essential ingredient to almost any expedition the Sith went on. So many primitives clung to ancient ruins, hardly understanding what they were looking at. It was important that those who sought to bring the galaxy to heel that they were wiped away, and that they themselves were safe in the process.

Armaj stepped off of the landing craft, the stink of the natural and untamed air around them filling his nostrils. The wildlife in the jungles were never something he was interested in, even growing on a world that was lush as it was. He thought that industry was better suited to smash it all away.

"The archeologists suggest that the temple is some distance through dense brush. Orbital scans showed a dense massing of trees that seem to be growing far more thickly due to an unnatural cause. It likely threw off the scans... but is also precisely where we should be heading." Armaj noted the drawn lightsaber, and felt his own pistol. He hardly had had any cause to use it, but should he have to, he knew how. "We follow your lead Champion."

@Faded

 

[Roman Antilles]

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Roman continued to glance at his own datapad as Armaj spoke, his attention quickly caught off guard when the officer spoke of their floral situation. "A dense massing of trees? They're continuing to grow even now??" He asked. A surprising look was on his face, albeit fully hidden underneath the durasteel helm he adorned. Eyes flickered to a red hue as he shifted his attention back onto the navigation map and thought in silent for a few moments.

"Very well, let's try to cut through it.." He said, his armored figure moving to advance into the general direction towards the Temple. The first obstacle would be several thousand feet of dense brush that ranged to an odd 7 meters in height and nearly 3 meters in diameter. Roman stood in front of the bushes for a minute, glancing upwards at their natural size and wondering how the hell did these things grow this big in the first place. Crimson lightsaber ignited in his right hand, hissing as the sword was slashed against the root of the brush in front of him. Roman anticipated that the trees would collapse once severed, but instead, they didn't even flinch against the slash!

"What the hell?!" Roman yelled, only to have the bush reach down and smack the Sith Champion with one of its massive branches. The armored warrior flew backwards, landing on the muddy ground with a thud. Apparently, these floral were sentient and defended themselves against attempts to attack them.

Still in awe, Roman starred coldly at the bush for several long moments...

[OOC: Dice Roll. 16/100, Moderate Failure to cut through the bush]

@Morse

 

[Armaj Branthom]

Watching the vain attempts of the Sith Champion to cut through the foliage, Armaj took a pause. He did not dare to rush to assist the Sith in standing as he had witnessed more than a few unhappy accidents that were the result of rage. That was not necessarily the way that he envisioned his death, and he was happy to allow for the Troopers to assist him.

"This forest seems to have many surprises." Armaj spoke. "It was wise for those that came before to build it here and hide it in this way."

Armaj spoke in the half true admiration of an adult looking on the ingenuity of a child. The kind of snide superiority that was painful in how trivial it made everything sound.

"Bring up the flame troopers." Armaj spoke. "Burn it down."

Troopers quickly moved to re equip and rearm themselves for the current task. There was little risk of harming what they sought, but this brush simply had to go.

​

The now rearmed Imperial troopers began to blaze a controlled path through the trees, the curling twisting, almost screamlike reaction of the brush was a firm testimonial of their success as a path became visible through the scorched brush.


[OOC: Dice Roll. 97/100.]

 

[Roman Antilles]

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Roman slowly rose to his feet, only to see a stream of flame engulf the vile brushes in entirety; he admired the officer for his quick thinking, perhaps Armaj would make himself a valuable asset on this journey. As the flametroopers took down the bushes, only shards and ashes remained as their jet streams came to an end. Smoldering smoke rose from the ground into the sky, the smell of burnt flora intoxicating though not significantly bothersome. The armored sith nodded and proceeded to advance through the burnt forest, shoes stepping on crispy foliage as the party continued on its track.

Their navigating holopads would guide them, as the journey through Vjun could be quite treacherous. Eventually though, they came upon what appeared to be a narrow canyon corridor. The only visible passing appeared blocked with rubble; Roman scanned with his eyes around the periphery and back onto the navigation map. "Seems there is only one single route into the Temple heart, we must cross..." He spoke.

Moving forwards, Roman motioned for the soldiers to take a few steps back to clear the way. Both of his hands outstretched, the Sith Champion channeled a sizable locus of force energy onto the rocks, slowly moving them side by side until a passageway could be seen behind them. As it appeared to be clear, a volley of arrows flew out suddenly from within the darkness. Several of them piercing the chestarmor of the Sith and knocking Roman back onto the ground with a yelping roar!

Natives of the planet. They were humanoid but their fleshes and skin decayed with centuries of dark force magic. A slimy, purple hue laced their flesh as a handful of them charged towards the Battalion with steel axes and arrows.

@Morse

[OOC: Dice for force push on rocks. Rolled 49]

 

[Armaj Branthom]

The scans for life had been difficult to read. A lush world held life signs in every single corner. Getting an idea of a large concentration had been virtually impossible given the circumstances. What was anyone to do but guess where they might be, and if they were sentient. The answer to such questions came violently in a volley of primitive, but dangerous weapons.

Armaj had a an immediate shudder of fear. He was neither armored nor prepared for such an encounter. He was not about to go out and battle these indigenous in a glorious duel to the death.

In a defiant terror he roared at the Troopers.

"Kill them!" Armaj gritted his teeth, and hastily struggled to take hold of his pistol. "Kill them all!"

These creatures dared to attack the chosen representatives of the Empire. Whether it was by ignorance or intention, they would learn the awe inspiring might of the Empire the next few moments that would leave their culture altered forever.

The Troopers took their positions, took their aim, took on their maneuvers, and began to take the lives of the charging enemy.

@Faded

 

[Roman Antilles]

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Roman staggered backwards with the arrow bolts to his armored chestpiece, trickles of blood dotting along the obsidian armor as several of the bolts bled through. Snarling, he hurled his lightsaber towards the head of a row of assailants. However, these creatures harbored some type of force sensitivity and surprisingly, his saber throw was deflected by an invisible force and re-directed against one of the Champion's own troopers.

"Fuck!" Roman roared as the soldier was decapitated; extending his hand out, he recalled the crimson weapon to his grip, only to be shot again by a second arrow into his left flank. "BLargh!" He cursed, yelping loudly in pain and shifted onto his back foot to take a few steps behind rocky cover. Dark force energies pulsated through his body, culminating into an focused epicenter into the palm of his left hand. Taking a step to the side, he extended the hand outwards and channeled into a savage force choke.

Channeling the attack, he directed invisible tendrils to grab a hold of three young village women around their necks. The force hoisted them up into the air, suspending them at least five to 10 inches off the ground. The other villagers took pause for a moment, unfamiliar with this type of force expressions.

Roman yelled to his troopers, "Now's your chance! Exterminate them!" He roared loudly in commandment, hoping to take advantage of their momentary stutter in awe of his force abilities. He would be ruthless in his execution, these were not allies of the Empire and as such, were afforded no shred of mercy.

[OOC Dice: 17 for the Lightsaber toss, 87 for the Force Choke]

@Morse

 

[Armaj Branthom]

Armaj had not been a party to many moments of combat in his life. He was not a Soldier, nor had he spent a great deal of time around them. He had directed the brutalizing of peasants before, but that was for a purpose. These creatures were in their way and that was all he saw. There was an immediate danger, but he could hardly focus over the roaring blaster bolts and orders shouted between the troopers calling out targets.

The Troopers did not hesitate to obey the Sith Champion, they sent hurdles of blaster bolts into the natives, the red bolts searing anything in their path and burning through. It was a complete and indiscriminate massacre. As though they were putting down a worker riot on a factory world that was disobeying their designated function.

Armaj had opted to assist, firing a hurdle of blasts himself. He fired with one hand and both eyes open. It could hardly be said that his stance implied any real training or interest in hitting anything. It was a rapid series of powerful blasts that struck nothing but the singed trees around them.

(85 for the troopers combat, 22 for Armaj pistol)

@Faded